Secret Revealed!!!

Okay…so I have a confession. I have been keeping a secret of sorts for a few weeks now. I promised a friend that I would not share said secret. I think the desire to keep the secret was somehow seated in the foundational thought that maybe someone would perhaps stop the actions we were taking. Or, maybe someone might even be hurt that we were being exclusive by not including anyone else in the secret. Whatever the reasoning, I know my friend. Their intent would never be to hurt anyone intentionally. You see, something I am even more sure of after the past several weeks, is that my friend has this amazing heart. And to be totally honest, I don’t feel the need to come clean about the secret, because there isn’t anything to apologize for, or, come clean about. The reason I share, is because bumping up against a heart his size should be shared…and I am so enamored with it that I have to let you all catch a glimpse.

It started roughly five weeks ago. It was a typical Tuesday afternoon. Our home was abuzz with homework, chores, after school practices, giving this one a ride here, dropping that one off there…I hadn’t even begun to think of the dinner menu and time was rushing by. Before I knew it I found myself throwing a loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly on the counter. I grabbed the paper plates and a butter knife, set it alongside the loaf, and began to walk away. I had a twinge of conscience, walked back to the refrigerator and grabbed a bag of raw baby carrots and the bottle of ranch dressing to add to the evening meal. “Hey! Everybody! Get down here and make a sandwich right now! We need to leave in twenty minutes.”

Right on schedule we made it out the door and before I knew it arrived at the gym to drop off daughters three and four, along with nephew. They were on time, but just barely. As I put the family transportation into drive and began to pull away I was startled when a voice arose from the back seat saying “Mom, what do you want to do now?” I guess I was so distracted by the pace we were coming and going at, that for one brief moment I forgot I had a lone passenger. As I glanced quickly at my rearview mirror I saw him, his dark hair and eyes, face covered with freckles and looking up at me.

Sometimes I find myself so distracted by everything, that I don’t realize the path I have wandered onto. So was this moment. It was just the handsome short guy in the back seat, and me. It’s not that we haven’t been alone in the past. I mean, it has happened frequently over the past 8 years. But I was struck by this moment, and the realization that the time was changing.

I answered, “Well, I’m not sure. We are kind of alone, aren’t we?”

I saw him glance out the window and say quietly…”Yes. Yes we are.”

Not wanting to force my “to do list” upon him I asked “So is there anything you really wanted to do tonight? Something we can do together, just the two of us…since we are alone?” I was kind of surprised by the silence. I glanced into the rearview mirror again, and I swear I saw the wheels begin to turn. He said “Well, what if we went somewhere and got a treat together. You know, sweets or something?” Now I ask you, who says things like that? He said “sweets or something” and I have to tell you I kind of melted. And that is how the secret started.

We decided that Tuesday evenings would be our time. We wouldn’t tell Daddy or the siblings, after all, he said “We don’t want anyone to feel left out or anything…so we just shouldn’t tell them.” Since that night we have had a total of five rendezvous. Those evenings have included a ginormous cinnamon roll, a piece of chocolate cream pie, a cake pop (iced latte for me) and an oreo cookie ice cream. The cinnamon roll was so much to his liking that he requested to return for another one last night. On the way to this fine establishment the following conversation ensued…

“Mom, do you know which channel on the radio is the 70’s channel?”

“No I do not…” I say, “But feel free to change to whatever you like.” (Yes, he is fond of “70’s” music…God, I so love this boy.)

“So, Mom, were you even alive in the 70’s?” I pause, and state “Why yes I was. I turned six when the 70’s started, and then turned sixteen when the 70’s came to a close.”

He started to fidget in excitement with the realization that I was actually there in the 70’s…that time of his most favorite music. And asked “So, Mom, what do you think the grooviest music was? You know, what years do you think had the most grooviest music of all?” I could feel his eyes upon me and knew that this was a very serious question. He was asking my opinion. It was not the typical life-as-usual business, we were having an exchange. He was engaging me with a topical discussion of the arts, music in particular. I wanted so desperately to release the giggles I was feeling, but didn’t want to derail his focus.

“Well, since you are asking what the grooviest music of all is, I would have to say the music from the 70’s was indeed some of the grooviest of all music.”

All of a sudden he jumped in his seat (as much as a buckled seatbelt will allow) clapped his hands loudly, and said with great fervor “YES!!! I knew it!” Might I add there was a very satisfied grin spread from ear to ear.

As we crossed the parking lot he jumped in front of me, wrapping both arms tightly around my waist in an attempt to lift me off the ground…something he has been trying to do periodically over the past few weeks. I guess this is a goal for my manchild…he is practicing for the day when he can actually sweep his Momma off of her feet! While he gave me a good shove I exclaimed “Whoa! You almost did it that time, Buddy!” Once again, that grin lighting up his whole face.

Just short of the door he stopped and said, “You know that cinnamon roll is really big, but by the time I get to the middle of it, it might be a little dry. Do you think we could ask them to bring us a little extra icing?”

“I think that would be a great idea…we will ask.”

Let the kid have the icing, I say. After all, it’s our secret…nobody will ever know.

He’s already chosen where we will go next week…McDonald’s ice cream cones and then to the park to take a walk.

Some secrets are really good.

Don’t tell anybody, okay?